This week’s feature is an example of a “local boy making good” in the world of sports media. Read on…

Grant Bilse was a pleasure to interview. Although the information was obtained totally via email, I felt like his notes really helped me personalize his story.

Grant had extremely positive memories of the teachers he had at MMS. In his own words, “I loved my time in class with Jay Stanley, John Utphall, Craig Olson, Jennifer Behrend and Kathy Ruegnitz.”

Mr. Stanley was the only teacher who ever got him to try hard enough to do math and “always saw more in his students than they saw in themselves.”

When it comes to John Utphall, Grant considered him a “musical superhero.” He credits Mr. Utphall with being a big reason why he loves playing the piano. In fact, Mr. Utphall was his piano teacher! Grant also enjoys playing the guitar. As an adult he considers the two instruments as both a hobby and a passion.

According to Grant, Mr. Olson would challenge students who “thought they knew everything (me) to think about things differently—but did so very subtly (which is the only way that would work with a student like me).”

Mrs. Behrend “showed so much love for her students and clearly wanted to involve everyone in her class,” getting their input on the literature as well as anything else they were discussing that day.

Although Grant only took two years of Spanish, he remembers Mrs. Ruegnitz as an “outstanding teacher and a really cool human being.”

When I asked Grant about his memories of MHS, his strongest ones came from his time in cross country. Coaches Adam Topper and Craig Olson did “an amazing job reaching every athlete on their team.” Grant followed up this remark with the following comment: “So many young people at Menomonie High School have found their people and their home as cross country runners. That’s such a testament to the sport and the dedication of the coaches. Great life lessons were learned about how off-season practices and year-round work paid off in competitions.”

While in high school, Grant also worked as a lifeguard at the Wakanda Waterpark and by playing music for the residents of The Neighbors of Dunn County. After high school, he attended UW-LaCrosse, graduating in 2020 with a degree in Media Studies. This seems to be a perfect match for him since he loves to research, talk and write. Although he’s not sure where those skills will take him, he wonders “who knows what the media landscape will look like in five-ten years.”

Grant is already making his mark by working in the field of sports talk radio. This has allowed him some amazing opportunities—broadcasting at the Super Bowl’s Radio Row each of the last three years in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and San Francisco have definitely been career highlights.

Getting to emcee the Packers Tailgate Tour event in LaCrosse in April 2025, Grant was able to introduce local fans to some Packer players and alumni—Mark Murphy, Tucket Kraft, Lukas Van Ness, Ahman Green, John Michels, and so many others—while raising lots of money for the local Hunger Task Force in a “town that means a lot to me.”

In his spare time, Grant enjoys playing guitar in bands as well as solo engagements. He also loves hiking and fly fishing.  Currently, Grant lives in Madison, working at Mid West Family as a radio host and producer.

As we concluded our interview, I asked Grant what were some of the qualities that made growing up in Menomonie special: “Menomonie is a perfect place to grow up. Not too big, not too small. I’ll always hold an appreciation for outdoor spaces because of my time on the Red Cedar Trail, Tainter Lake, or hunting north of town.”

Grant added “UW-Stout keeps the downtown alive and provides Menomonie with a unique subculture that, in many cases, spans generations and connects families—which I think is really cool.”

Note from Judy: Once again I find myself struggling to enlist subjects for this column. If you or someone you know might be interested in sharing their stories, please have them send me a note. Unless I am given contact information, I can’t connect with MHS grads. Thanks!

Judy Foust is a retired longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. To submit info to her or to request an interview she may be contacted at [email protected]